Destin agrees to scale back plans for Norriego Point

DESTIN — Whether it’s a road, a pavilion or a parking lot, one thing is clear: Some residents and City Council members don’t want anything on Norriego Point.

MATT ALGARIN / The Destin Log

DESTIN — Whether it’s a road, a pavilion or a parking lot, one thing is clear: Some residents and City Council members don’t want anything on Norriego Point.

“There are just some things, some parts of this beautiful country, beautiful city that ought to be kept in their natural condition, pristine condition,” said attorney John Connell, who represents the owners at East Pass Towers II. “It seems to me there are compelling reasons we can make to DEP (state Department of Transportation) and to NRDA (Natural Resources Damage Assessment) as to why this spit of land should be kept in its natural state. There are just some places that don't need to be built on.”

Destin City Council members talked again last week about the Norriego Point Land Management Plan, which calls for the city to make improvements to the eroding park.

The conceptual improvements would include features such as interpretive signage, restrooms and a pavilion, with parking and some type of road to connect to the neighboring property, Galic-Pointe LLC, as well as a full stabilization of the point.

The project would cost more than $8 million, which ideally would be funded through the Natural Resources Damage Assessment program. The city already has applied for NRDA funding.

As part of the development order for the Galic-Pointe property, a road and roundabout would be built to connect the new project with the existing public parking area. The road would be located on a 100-foot city right of way.

Based on the conceptual plan, the city’s proposed pavilion area is only a short distance from the edge of the Galic-Pointe property, so some type of road, path or trail would be needed for pedestrians to walk from the parking lot to the pavilion.

In his first year as a councilman, Tuffy Dixon said he has had more phone calls and talked to more people about the issue than any other since he was elected.

“There is a major, major concern about building any kind of road, and there is some concern about restroom facilities there on that piece of property,” Dixon said.

“I’m all about protecting that point,” he said. “I’d like to find a way to do it without any more asphalt, concrete and roofs, but I don’t know if we can.”

Councilman Jim Bagby, who has been outspoken on the issue, proposed approving the long-range management plan for Norriego Point already submitted, but without the parking lot and road on the city’s portion of the land.

“My hope for coming here tonight is that we would come to some type of compromise on the management plan that we could all support, even though we might not all like it,” he said. “I’m begging you to take the parking and the road off of our portion of Norriego Point.”

The council voted 6-0 to approve Bagby’s proposal. Councilman Larry Williges was absent.

“The spirit of compromise and the spirit of Christmas were there,” Bagby said after the meeting.

Destin Log Staff Writer Matt Algarin can be reached at 850-654-8446 or malgarin@thedestinlog.com. Follow him on Twitter @DestinLogMatt.